First Edinburgh tram sets off down Leith walk on new extension
It's the first time a tram has made it's way to Leith in more than 60 years
The first tram to utilise the brand new Edinburgh tram extension has set off.
Tonight (March 13) testing begins on the new tracks which will allow passengers to get to Newhaven.
A video showing the tram moving off from Picardy place, posted by the Council on Twitter, shows it approaching the Edinburgh playhouse.
Referred to as 'ghost trams' no passengers are allowed on yet, and the light-rail vehicle is moving at a crawl.
This is to allow testing on the infrastructure.
Engineers will make the sure the new track is safe and fully functional before ramping up testing.
Then empty services will have to run for a length of time without any issue before finally the extension can open to the public.
Edinburgh's transport convener Councillor Scott Arthur told Forth News:
"This will be the first tram in my life time actually to run down Leith Walk, it's going to be an incredible sight.
"The tram this evening is the test tram just to make sure all the infrastructure we've been putting in place in recent months is up to the job - and I'm sure it will be
"I think this is a real milestone in this project.
"I know people in Leith and particularly those living and working up and down Leith Walk have put up with a lot.
"But I think this is a real tipping point, and we should start to see some of the benefits coming to the area soon."